1854

January

HCA reads Mathilde Fibiger's (Clara RaphaÎl's) novel Minona, which is about incest and other issues of sexuality. HCA is shocked by it: "For her sake and for the sake of literature, one would wish it had never been written", says he in a letter to Ingemann, dated 21st January and continues:

"Here, love becomes animal-like, and love between man and woman - I know this myself - is pure in its flame; at least there is no consciousness of the sensuous element [...] the final devotion towards Christ, it is false; she grasps at him, so as to at least have something to grasp; grace will not be achieved in that manner! Salvation achieved thus is too easy [...] yes, we are all sinners in different ways; but here they all are in one certain aspect: in one whirl of sensuality! However is it possible that a young girl - pure and innocent as I believe the authoress to be - can live, think, write and proof-read something like this? The book has affected me".